Alternating current vibratory apparatus



Aug 19, 1941 T. DIETRICH 2,253,267

ALTERNATING CURRENT VIBRATORY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1'7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 51s 1r 1 I 151@ @(7.- Zwei/@WW Aug. 19, 1941. T. DlETRlcH ALTERNATING CURRENT VIBRATORY APPARATUS Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1957 V l/l/ /l/ ll lll/l J I! y Me@ Patented Aug. 19, 1941v ALTsaNA'rnvG 0mm vmaA'ronY APPARATUS Theodore Dietrich, Geneva, Switzerland, aignor to the iirm Sodeco, Societe des Compteurs de Geneve, Chemin Chandieu, Geneva, Switzerland, a lirm of Switzerland Application November rz. 1931, serai No. 175.150 In switzerland January zo, 1937 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to alternating current vibratory massage apparatus ot the type comprising an electro-magnet the armature oi' which is rigidly connected to a rod carrying the massaging tool.

According to the invention there is provided on both sides of the electromagnet at least one blade spring mounted with either of its ends on the frame of the electromagnet and carrying with its middle portion the entire movable part of the apparatus so as to permit a. vibratory movement of this latter in axial direction with respect to the electromagnet.

The accompanying drawings represent by way of example several embodiments of a massage apparatus according to the invention.

Figure l represents a longitudinal section-of the apparatus and Fig. 2 a view from the back.

Figs. 3 and 4 represent each a modification according to which the intensity of the vibrations can be adjusted by a member which is accessible from the exterior of the apparatus.

Figures 5 to 7 diagrammatically represent various modifications concerning the manner of connecting the blade springs to the frame of the electromagnet.

In Fig. 1 the casing I of the massage apparatus is shown in section and may consist of metal or of moulded material. The handle portion 2 is hollow and traversed by the conductors 3 which feed alternating current to the coil 4 of the electro-magnet. The fixed part of the magnetic circuit of this latter is constituted by a tubular core 5, an annular back 6 and an exterior cylindrical cover l.

The electromagnet is traversed in -axial direction by a rigid rod 8 which carries the movable armature 9 having the shape of a disk, and an interchangeable massaging member III. The whole of the movable part thus constituted is resiliently supported at two points II and I2, situated on either end of the electromagnet, by means of ilat springs I3 and I4 constituted either by a simple blade spring or by a packet of two or more superposed blades, fixed at their ends I5 by screws I6 to columns Il which are rigidly connected to the frame of the electromagnet. The air-gap comprised between the fixed part of the magnetic circuit of the electromagnet and the movable armature 9 is constituted by two annular spaces I8 and I9 in iront oi' the tubular core 3 and the cylindrical cover 1.

The operation of the apparatus is the following: The entire movable part l, 9, III being supported by the blade springs I3 and I4, can axially 'move without being subjected to any friction and its movement is limited in both directions by the tension oi the springs owing to the effect of the axial movement only and not by any rigid or resilient stops. The flat springs also prevent any lateral displacement of the movable part as also any inclination and any rotation of the rod 3 with respect to the xed part of the electromagnet. Under the effect of the alternating magnetical eld created by the alternating current traversing the coil 4, the movable armature 9 is subjected by the ilxed part to a pulsatory attraction and the movable part as a whole effects a vibratory movement in synchronism either with the frequence of the current or with a submultiple of this frequence. The springs I3 and I4 can be disposed in such manner, that in the position which they occupy when the armature is at rest, they are ilat and are not subjected to any tension. They could however also be dise posed so that in the position of rest of thearm'ature they are ilat but stretched between'their points of ilxation, or in the contrary, arched and subjected to an effort of flexion exerted by their points of xation.

In the example represented as modiiication in Figure 3, the casing I of the apparatus is provided at its rear end with a threaded sleeve 3I, in which screws a button 32 accessible from the exterior of the apparatus. This button is provided with an annular slot 33 in which is engaged one end of a coiled spring 34 the other end of which bears'axially on the movable part 8, 9, I0 (see Fig. 1) by the intermediary of a nut 35. The coiled spring 34 acts in opposition to the attractive force exerted by the electromagnet on its armature 9, and the retracting force of the spring is adjustable owing to the milled button 32 which can be screwed at will more or less into the sleeve 3| and decreases the intensity of vibration of the movable part. It can be easily recognized that the more the button 32 is pushed inwardly, the stronger ls the tension of the spring 34, and the smaller is the intensity of vibration of the massaging member I0, and reciprocally.

Such as represented ln Fig. 3, the spring 34 acts by compression and against the attraction of the electromagnet on the movable armature 9. 'I'he regulating device constituted by the. spring 34 and button 32 could as well be disposed on the other side of the lelectromagnet, or the spring vcould -work by tension, so that it would have the eiect to increase the attraction of the electromagnet on its movable armature.

In the example representedas modification in Fig. 4, the casing I of the apparatus is closed at its rear end opposite the massaging member bry a cover 4I screwing with friction on the casing I. This cover comprises an internal rib 42 of opposite ends they are engaged with longitudinal play in lodgements 'll provided in the frame and disposed in such manner, that the springs are not able to move laterally nor to incline themannular shape which bears on the spring blade 5 selves in these lodgements, but can slightly slide I4 at two points 43 and M comprised each between the center and one end of the spring. By screwing the cover 4I more or less on the casing I, the rib 42 acts more or less on the spring I4, which is thus initially tensioned and this tension is adjustable at will, permitting an adjustment oi the intensity of the vibrations of the movable part of the apparatus. The rib 42 could also have spiral shape, so that the points Il and Y 44 move along the spring I4 when the cover is turned, and thus increase or decrease the free length of the oscillatable part .of the spring and modify the intensity of the vibrations.

Figure 5 diagrammatically represents an attaching device for the ends of the springs I3 and Il according to which the springs are maintained in lodgements 5I and 62 provided in the frame of the electro-magnet. The ends of the springs are held against lateral displacement in these lodgements; they can incline themselves in the lodgements and slightly move in the direction of the axis of the blade.

Figure 6 diagrammatically represents another modification oi' an attaching device i'or the ends ofthe springs I3 and Il according t0 which the springs are maintained with one of their ends in lodgements 6I and 62 provided in the frame ot the electromagnet, and with their opposite ends in lodgements 63 and 64 provided in resilient members 65 and 66 secured to the frame oi' the electromagnet at 61. In this case, even when the apparatus is at rest, the flexible members in the direction of the axis ot the blade.

It is understood that the described apparatus could belprovided with an electric regulating device ct nstituted for instance by a variable resistance inserted in the circuit oi' the coil of the electromagnet and such an electric regulating device could work alone or in conjunction with the mechanical adjustment as represented in Figures 3 or 4. Moreover the coil could be subdivided in two or morewindings adapted to be connected by a coupling device so as to enable the apparatus to operate at diierent alternating voltages.

I claim:

Vibratory electric motor comprising in combination a casing. a hollow handle formed integral with said casing and transversed by the lead wires to the motor, a trame mounted within said casing, an electro-magnet having a tubular core carried by said frame, transversely extending blade springs disposed on either side of said electromagnet and having their ends connected to said frame, a reciprocating rod passing through said core and projecting therefrom at both ends. said rod being iixed to and resiliently supported and limited in itsmovement in both directions by means of said blade springs, an armature secured to one end of said rod and disposed between one oi said blade springs and said core, a pressing coil spring bearing upon the other end of said rod on the outer side of the other of said blade springs, said coil spring being adapted to oppose the attractive force of the electromagnet, and an operating member threaded into said casing and bearing against said coil spring to regulate its pressure for adjusting the tension of both said blade springs and varying the air gap and consequently the attractive force of the electromagnet.

'I'HEODORE DIETRICH. 

